[topicmapmail] Topic Maps, Description Logics and Semantic Networks

[Murray Altheim]

Lars,

I think this is a case of using an imprecise natural language to
describe a logical language. When you or I say "less" or "more
expressive" some people may be confused by the imprecision of
that. FOL is "more expressive" in that using some very convoluted
expressions one can say certain things (owing to the idea that
everything that is a logic can be deconstructed to FOL) and
therefore a logic like DL that creates a means of avoiding that
by creating "shortcuts" for things that aren't expressed directly
in FOL is "less expressive".

So yes, one could theoretically build an entire automobile out
of nuts and bolts but it's nice that somebody has provided
carburators and exhaust manifolds. FOL is nuts and bolts, DL is
a curburator. You can build anything out of FOL (nuts and bolts
are therefore "more expressive") and DL is a more specific
(specified, "less expressive") set of tools.

Whether I have contradicted myself or not is rather immaterial.
We have obviously began talking in circles once again so I'll
bow out of this conversation since the point(s) have now been
made and people have been provided references if they want to
investigate further.

Murray

...........................................................................
Murray Altheim <murray07 at altheim.com>                           ===  = =
http://www.altheim.com/murray/                                     = =  ===
SGML Grease Monkey, Banjo Player, Wantanabe Zen Monk               = =  = =

        In the evening
        The rice leaves in the garden
        Rustle in the autumn wind
        That blows through my reed hut.  -- Minamoto no Tsunenobu